Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-06-30
DEPRAvED APPETITE,
The Probable Causes of Unnatural Crav-
ings of Cows and Other Animals.

ings of Cows and Other Animals.
The unnatural cravings of certain
kinds of animals, when confined in
winter quarters, or even when turned
loose in the fields, for wood, bones and
other hard substances are induced by
the peculiar condition of the system
of the animal, and the deficiency of
certain mineral matters in the food.
The habit is more observable in mich
cows than in any other kind of cattle,
although horse that is not properly
fed will exhibit the same unnatural
craving by gnawing the boards of his
stall. Farm horses that are worked
considerably in the summer time do
not show this desire for hard sub
stances, if fed well and turned out to
pasture; but in the winter time, when
confined in the barn, and unable to
obtain the desired minerals, they will
demonstrate to the farmer that all is
not right by disiiguring the boards and
sides of the managers with their teeth.
So universal is this habit that many
line the edges of the managers with tin
or some other hard metal. The
milch cows on many farms are so
given over to this craving that it is
dangerous to permit small bones to get
in the stable or food The animals
will seize upon the bones in an instant,
and unless taken forcibly from them
the chances are that they will become
choked in their endeavor to extract
some of the mineral substance from
the hard cud.
Clearly the unnatural cravings arise
from some physiological cause, and can
be traced to the weakened condition of
the animal or to the improper mode of
feeding. Farms that are worn out and
the soil exhausted, without being re-
paired by the application of the neces-
sary fertilizers, are apt to produce
food deficient in mineral matters, such
as phosphates and potash. As all are
aware, the system of cattle, as well as
the human system, demands a certain
amount of mineral and organic SUBJ
stances to keep it well balanced, and
in healthful condition. The failure
to comply with this memorable law of
nature instantly causes disastrous con-
sequences sometimes, and if persisted,
in the result will either be sickness on
the part of the cows or the drying-up
of the milk. As soon as the ANIMAL ex-
hibits desire to gnaw any thing and
every thing that comes in its way, the
owner should begin to experiment with
the food. Nearly every case requires
different treatment. l have seen a
meal of chopped-up potatoes, literally
sprinkled with salt, given twice day
for week, cure mich COWS of this I'M
natural craving, while on the other
hand it has, apparently, had no effect
on cows in other sections of the coun-
try. This was clearly the result of the
difference in the products of the two
farms, and the food fed to the cows.
If potatoes and salt have no effect
upon cattle, other remedies can be
tried until the right one is discovered.
Bone meal and wood ashes have been
used by many dairymen with consid-
cradle success for this habit, but many
cows will refuse to touch this mixture,
evidencing at once that It's not the rem
edy required. If the proper mixture
is supplied. the cows will devour it at
once, and not turn away from it as
many will from bone meal and wood
ashes. Wheat bran literally fed to the
cattle is also good remedy; rem
edy, too, that will improve the quality
and quantity of the milk. Further ex'
pertinent in this line would be advan-
tageous, not only to the farmer who is
troubled with cattle gwen over to this
unnatural habit, but it would help tC
formulate some general rule that would
apply to all cases.
The farmer might look still deeper
into the subject with considerable
profit to himself. Inasmuch as it i:
caused by the quality of the crops
raised on the farm, it is evident tina
the root of all the evil is in the soil
Improve the condition of the soil by
supplying it with the mineral sub
stances in which it is most deficient. L
bone meal and wood ashes cure thu
cattle of the strange appetite for bonc
and wood, a liberal supply of these
substances spread over the field will
the fertilizers in the spring of the yea
would be beneficial Potash would alst
give additional benefits. George T.
Walsh, IN our Country Home.